True or False: Can Sleep Apnea Affect Brain Health?

Millions of Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder that causes people to experience repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night. It’s known to interrupt sleep cycles and keep people from getting the rest they need to remain healthy and functional. Well, it may surprise you to learn that this disorder can take a significant toll on your brain health, causing memory loss amongst other problems. Read on to learn more about the effects of sleep apnea on your brain and the importance of seeking treatment.  

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your Brain?

Researchers from UCLA have discovered that sleep apnea contributes to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. It protects the brain tissue by keeping harmful bacteria, infections, and chemicals from reaching it.

That said, sleep apnea can affect your brain health in the following ways:

Contributes to Memory Loss

Sleep apnea causes frequent waking throughout the night, making people experience several daytime symptoms like fatigue, shortened attention span, moodiness, and reduced short-term recall. Consolidating memories, or storing experiences so they can be accessed later, is an essential part of the memory-creating process that occurs during sleep. If your rest is interrupted, it can become difficult to incorporate and categorize experiences, leading to impaired memory formation and forgetfulness.

Affects Brain Function

A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research by the UCLA School of Nursing investigated the injury caused to the insular cortex of the brain by sleep apnea. In a nutshell, they discovered drastic differences in the two chemicals that influence how the brain is working.

Changes the Shape of the Brain

Studies show that the mamillary bodies (essential structures in the brain that are critical for the memory stage) are nearly 20% smaller in adults who suffer from sleep apnea. Not only that, but another study found that the combination of poor sleep quality and progressive brain damage could be responsible for poor memory, emotional problems, decreased cognitive functioning, and increased cardiovascular disturbances.

The Importance of Sleep Apnea Therapy

With the help of sleep apnea therapy, you can easily improve your brain health! Seeking treatment can help your brain chemicals return to normal levels. A study was completed to evaluate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on patients who had significant damage to their brain matter. They found that after a year of treatment, the brain matter was almost completely restored! Of course, more research is still being conducted to support these promising results.

If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist about treatment. It’s the best way to keep your brain in tip-top shape for years to come!

About the Practice

At Better Sleep Eugene, we offer effective solutions to help you get the much-needed rest you deserve. Our team can create custom-made oral appliances to help treat sleep apnea and improve your overall quality of life. If you’re unsure whether you have the condition or are struggling with CPAP, feel free to get in touch. You can make an appointment via our website or call (541) 246-8284.